A “free” or “cheap” booking system often means the real cost sits in a per-booking fee, not the subscription. The better business is, the more you pay — the exact opposite of how most people want their costs to behave.
How a commission model works
Many booking platforms work like a marketplace: you pay a subscription to be listed there, then an extra fee for every booking that comes through that channel. The model can be worthwhile if the marketplace genuinely brings you customers you wouldn't otherwise reach — but it's hard to predict in exact numbers.
The other setup is a booking system built into your own website, for a fixed monthly cost. You know exactly what it costs whether it's a quiet month or a fully booked one — and you own the customer relationship instead of renting space on someone else's platform.
What to ask before you choose
Three questions reveal most of it: Is the subscription the whole cost, or is there a fee per booking? Is that fee a flat amount or a percentage of the booking's value? And do you own the customer data, or does it stay with the platform if you switch systems later?
Timvat's model: one flat fee, no commission
Timvat's booking system is built into your website for €26/month incl. VAT — the same price whether you get five or fifty bookings that month. You approve every booking yourself and own the customer data outright.